Sensor Module Failure Diagnosis Using Redundant Gyro and Acceleration Signals
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems struggle to accurately determine which inertial force sensor fails when redundancy is implemented, as they can only identify a failure but not specify which sensor is malfunctioning.
Innovation Solution
A method and sensor module utilizing a first and second sensor element to detect angular velocity around a common axis and a third sensor element to detect acceleration in a perpendicular direction, with a failure diagnosis circuit comparing signals to diagnose normality and perform further diagnostics when necessary.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If redundancy is implemented by using multiple inertial force sensors, then reliability against failure is improved, but the ability to determine which specific sensor fails deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a third sensor element (acceleration sensor) as an intermediary to mediate the failure diagnosis between the two angular velocity sensors. By comparing the acceleration signal with the angular velocity signals, the system can identify which angular velocity sensor has failed, thus resolving the information loss problem while maintaining reliability through redundancy
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical comparison method (directly comparing two angular velocity sensors) with a physics-based substitution method. It uses the physical relationship between angular velocity and angular acceleration to substitute one sensor type (acceleration sensor) for another (angular velocity sensor) in the diagnosis process, enabling precise failure identification
2Device complexity
If only two angular velocity sensors are used for comparison, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision for failure diagnosis deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the diagnostic parameter from direct angular velocity comparison to a multi-parameter approach involving both angular velocity and angular acceleration. By utilizing the derivative relationship between these parameters, the system achieves higher measurement precision in failure diagnosis without significantly increasing device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The third sensor element serves multiple functions: it acts as a backup sensor, provides diagnostic information, and enables precise failure identification. This multi-functionality approach improves measurement precision while keeping the overall device complexity manageable by reusing the additional sensor for multiple purposes
Data Source
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AI summary
A method for diagnosing a failure in a sensor module includes: a first diagnosis step of diagnosing that when a comparison result between a first angular velocity based on an output signal of a first sensor element detecting an angular velocity around a first axis and a second angular velocity based on an output signal of a second sensor element detecting an angular velocity around the first axis satisfies a first standard, the first sensor element and the second sensor element are normal; and a second diagnosis step of performing failure diagnosis of the first sensor element using the first angular velocity signal or the second angular velocity signal and an acceleration signal based on an output signal of a third sensor element detecting an acceleration in a second-axis direction when the comparison result does not satisfy the first standard.